ZAMBOANGA CITY – To continuously improve the Agricultural Training Institute’s (ATI) implementation of training programs and advisory services for the coconut farmers and their families under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP), a benchmarking activity was held at the Philippine Coconut Authority – Zamboanga Research Center (PCA-ZRC).
Participated by focal persons and some representatives of the ATI’s network of Training Centers involved in the planning and implementation of CFIDP-related efforts, the activity enabled the sharing and exploration of coconut hybridization and non-food processing technologies in the PCA-ZRC, which can be introduced to more farmers.
The event began with a discussion on coconut production opportunities, followed by a two-day field visit on the different coconut production and processing facilities.
Among others, the participants visited PCA-ZRC’s tissue culture laboratory, food and non-food processing facilities, and industrial processing facilities such as the conversion of biowaste into coco coir, biofuel, and other coconut-based products.
After the visit, the CFIDP focals and representatives crafted some action plans relative to the dissemination of the significant technologies in PCA-ZRC. This is potentially through a series of awareness campaigns and capability-building efforts across the ATI Regional Training Centers.
This benchmarking activity was held last September 11-14 in Zamboanga Peninsula.
